Under the procedural guidance of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, an indictment has been sent to court regarding a group of individuals for the recruitment and transportation of people for the purpose of labor exploitation (Part 2 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Prosecutors established that a couple and two residents of Dnipropetrovsk organized an illegal mechanism for recruiting socially vulnerable individuals for their subsequent detention in forced labor on the territory of their farm.

The accused sought individuals without a permanent place of residence, particularly at train stations, and then, through deception and psychological influence, transported them to the Odesa region, promising free housing, food, and employment.

From March to July 2025, they recruited six people.

The victims were actually housed in a former utility building, converted into a dormitory with inadequate conditions, and were forced to perform hard agricultural work for free: cleaning after livestock and harvesting seasonal crops.

To control the victims, the accused confiscated their documents and means of communication, and if the victims attempted to escape, they applied psychological pressure and threatened physical harm.

In July 2025, the illegal activity was uncovered.

The pre-trial investigation was conducted by investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.